There are several definitions of the word cousin! From June 22, 2011 to July 2, 2011 I had the pleasure of getting to know my cousin Matt, his wife Judi and their two daughters Tatiana and Giana!

Now some people might say big deal! But to me it was and is. When I was around 8 or 9 years old my mothers younger sister, Nancy, went to the Island of Guam to teach for two years and was to return to Weirton when she was done with her contract. But instead she met a man, fell in love and stayed in Guam to this day.

The furthest I have moved away from home for a man was a hour away! My Aunt and Uncle had 3 boys and 1 girl. They made several trips to the states throughout the years. My grandparents went to Guam a couple of times. And a couple of those times they brought my cousin's back to stay with them for a year.

When Matt was around 10 he came to live with my family. I was 22 at the time and we all know that when you are 22 years of age a ten year old cousin is the furthest thing from your mind. I had my own life filled with friends, parties and all that.

Then Matt came back to West Virginia in 1997 and I was still to busy with my friends to be bothered.

When I dropped Matt and Judi and Tatiana and Giana off at the airport on Saturday July 2nd I could not stop crying. Finally now that I am a mature adult (LOL) I took the time to get to know Matt and Judi and Tatiana and Giana. What a beautiful family. I can not even begin to explain to you how much I so enjoyed their visit and how much I miss them. I cried all night Saturday!

I fell in love with Tatiana and Giana. They are two of the most beautiful little girls that I have ever met. Very well behaved, very well mannerd and lots of fun. And what can I say about Judi. What a wonderful young woman! That is until she told me she was born in 1978, which meant I was 17 at the time, which means I am old enough to be her mother!!!!

Judi and Matt were a great help to my mom while they stayed. She so enjoyed having them in her home and misses them so much. She asked me if I would get all my pictures developed that I took while they were here and she was going to buy a special photo album to put them. I took 173 pictures plus video. That is how much fun I had with all of them.

We went to church, we went shopping, out to eat, to visit relatives, to visit our grand parents gravesites. But most of all we got to know one another. I got to know these wonderful people whom I am so proud to call my family!